How Volkswagen gamed the emissions tests for its diesel fuel vehicles

Three experts chime in on how VW circumvented emissions tests

2014 volkswagen golf tdi feb 2014
Prototype: Volkswagen

In case you haven't noticed, modern cars are essentially high-cease computers with an engine, some shiny metal parts and four wheels.

The "interface" you see for controlling the radio and climate is becoming more and more like a huge iPad in the center of the dashboard. The blindspot detection systems, adaptive cruise command and collision warnings all utilise complex software algorithms. And, every bit nosotros have learned recently well-nigh emissions testing, there is software that controls how many pollutants spill out of the exhaust system.

Recently, Volkswagen came under fire in the U.S. for "gaming" the emissions tests conducted past the EPA. Three independent analysts told me how this worked, and information technology's rather ingenious. It turns out the laws for emissions testing themselves may accept played a role as a style to avoid being flagged as "muddied" diesels.

Equally analyst Rob Enderle explained to me today, the constabulary specifically states that the emissions must pass "at the time of testing," which is intended every bit a fashion to enforce compliance. Information technology's supposed to be a spot check. Even so, it's this very condition that triggered the software VW used to game the organization. "At the fourth dimension of the test" is when the software kicks in to control the emissions. When the test concludes, the software and then goes dorsum to "normal" mode. The diesel versions of cars like the Passat and Jetta then seem sporty and clean.

Charles Rex, an IT annotator who studies infrastructure and data centers and who blogs at Computerworld, gave me a like explanation. He says information technology's likely the car connected over a secure link to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the country where the tests were conducted. That's the irony — this connection is what triggered the software change to make the auto seem like it was controlling emissions.

Ken Westin, senior security annotator at Tripwire, further explained to me that the emissions tests are controlled by the OBDII port located just below the steering wheel on all new cars made subsequently 1998. "Computers tin be programmed to lie," he says, explaining how the car would but temporarily control the emissions to pass the test, then go dorsum to running at a higher performance level. Indeed, in my own tests of diesel-powered cars in the VW and Audi line over the past few years, they always seemed unusually sporty and responsive. It seemed similar you had the all-time of both worlds. This is where the term "turbo diesel" comes from, which we now understand as a misnomer.

Enderle said other automakers may accept pulled similar tricks to circumvent emissions testing. "If it is a problem with the law and the emissions arrangement hurts functioning and we have other compliant high-performance diesel cars then information technology seems likely other engineers have done like things," he says.

According to Enderle, this is not the first time automakers have tried to evade the EPA testing laws. Trucks were programmed to run "clean" but over time would slowly shut off emission controls every bit a style to increase gas mileage.

In contempo years, other automakers like Hyundai and Kia take come under scrutiny for claiming a higher MPG rating in their cars. This adds to all of the recalls, airbag issues and other problems that are plaguing the industry right and left. For now, all we tin practice is await and see if VW corrects the software and rebuilds trust. The actually troubling part? It seems as though this might be but the beginning of cars doing software tricks.

John Brandon is a technologist, product tester, machine enthusiast, and professional writer. Before becoming a author, he worked in the corporate sector for 10 years.

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